I started my undergraduate career as most students do unsure of what I wanted
most students do unsure of what I wanted
most students do unsure of what I wanted to do with my life I star gazed a lot as
to do with my life I star gazed a lot as
to do with my life I star gazed a lot as a kid but as I grew older and the
a kid but as I grew older and the
a kid but as I grew older and the pressures of making money loomed larger
pressures of making money loomed larger
pressures of making money loomed larger I turned to other fields so I started at
I turned to other fields so I started at
I turned to other fields so I started at Virginia Tech as an engineer as one does
Virginia Tech as an engineer as one does
Virginia Tech as an engineer as one does and I took the classes and I did
and I took the classes and I did
and I took the classes and I did moderately well but all the time my mind
moderately well but all the time my mind
moderately well but all the time my mind drifted back to the Stars my second year
drifted back to the Stars my second year
drifted back to the Stars my second year I was accepted into an astronomy
I was accepted into an astronomy
I was accepted into an astronomy research program at Sara – Lolo
research program at Sara – Lolo
research program at Sara – Lolo Observatory in la serena chile as part
Observatory in la serena chile as part
Observatory in la serena chile as part of the program each student got to
of the program each student got to
of the program each student got to observe for two nights at a major
observe for two nights at a major
observe for two nights at a major telescope there so my first night on the
telescope there so my first night on the
telescope there so my first night on the mountain i sat down in the control room
mountain i sat down in the control room
mountain i sat down in the control room typed in the coordinates of the galaxies
typed in the coordinates of the galaxies
typed in the coordinates of the galaxies I wanted to look at and this is the
I wanted to look at and this is the
I wanted to look at and this is the picture I got that was the night I knew
picture I got that was the night I knew
picture I got that was the night I knew I was going to be an astronomer see I’m
I was going to be an astronomer see I’m
I was going to be an astronomer see I’m fascinated with how people around the
fascinated with how people around the
fascinated with how people around the world see the Stars and most recently
world see the Stars and most recently
world see the Stars and most recently this question has brought me to Gabon a
this question has brought me to Gabon a
this question has brought me to Gabon a small country in western Africa to
small country in western Africa to
small country in western Africa to explore the influence of astronomy in
explore the influence of astronomy in
explore the influence of astronomy in African culture I spent two months
African culture I spent two months
African culture I spent two months traveling around the country hearing
traveling around the country hearing
traveling around the country hearing stories interviewing experts and
stories interviewing experts and
stories interviewing experts and witnessing ceremonies like nothing I’d
witnessing ceremonies like nothing I’d
witnessing ceremonies like nothing I’d ever experienced before
ever experienced before
ever experienced before one of the oldest religions in Gabon is
one of the oldest religions in Gabon is
one of the oldest religions in Gabon is called booty and it’s practiced by
called booty and it’s practiced by
called booty and it’s practiced by ethnic groups across the country during
ethnic groups across the country during
ethnic groups across the country during a ceremony initiates were adorned with
a ceremony initiates were adorned with
a ceremony initiates were adorned with images of the Sun the moon and the stars
images of the Sun the moon and the stars
images of the Sun the moon and the stars these objects represent the invisible
these objects represent the invisible
these objects represent the invisible world that connects the living to their
world that connects the living to their
world that connects the living to their ancestors and the light represents the
ancestors and the light represents the
ancestors and the light represents the knowledge gained from initiation for the
knowledge gained from initiation for the
knowledge gained from initiation for the Togo people of central Gabon astronomy
Togo people of central Gabon astronomy
Togo people of central Gabon astronomy is particularly important in names a man
is particularly important in names a man
is particularly important in names a man I interviewed told me as we are losing
I interviewed told me as we are losing
I interviewed told me as we are losing our connection
our connection
our connection with nature as the rainforests are being
with nature as the rainforests are being
with nature as the rainforests are being destroyed we look more and more to the
destroyed we look more and more to the
destroyed we look more and more to the stars to keep this connection alive solo
stars to keep this connection alive solo
stars to keep this connection alive solo culture dictates that if you lead a good
culture dictates that if you lead a good
culture dictates that if you lead a good moral life you will become a star after
moral life you will become a star after
moral life you will become a star after death and so because of this children
death and so because of this children
death and so because of this children are given names such as Gandhi the moon
are given names such as Gandhi the moon
are given names such as Gandhi the moon or Menengah
or Menengah
or Menengah the star for the bumbu people to the
the star for the bumbu people to the
the star for the bumbu people to the south of Gabon their belief system is
south of Gabon their belief system is
south of Gabon their belief system is that any crops planted will take on the
that any crops planted will take on the
that any crops planted will take on the physical attributes of their
physical attributes of their
physical attributes of their surroundings because of this cassava a
surroundings because of this cassava a
surroundings because of this cassava a popular West African tuber can only be
popular West African tuber can only be
popular West African tuber can only be planted when the moon is in waxing or
planted when the moon is in waxing or
planted when the moon is in waxing or waning phases this ensures that the crop
waning phases this ensures that the crop
waning phases this ensures that the crop will grow its characteristic crescent
will grow its characteristic crescent
will grow its characteristic crescent shape instead of misshapen and unhealthy
shape instead of misshapen and unhealthy
shape instead of misshapen and unhealthy so in hearing these stories and learning
so in hearing these stories and learning
so in hearing these stories and learning about the different influences that
about the different influences that
about the different influences that astronomy has I began to wonder why do
astronomy has I began to wonder why do
astronomy has I began to wonder why do these perspectives matter how can we use
these perspectives matter how can we use
these perspectives matter how can we use them for the betterment of people around
them for the betterment of people around
them for the betterment of people around the world these are the questions that
the world these are the questions that
the world these are the questions that brought me to the office of astronomy
brought me to the office of astronomy
brought me to the office of astronomy for development in Cape Town South
for development in Cape Town South
for development in Cape Town South Africa the incredible team there is
Africa the incredible team there is
Africa the incredible team there is working to answer exactly these
working to answer exactly these
working to answer exactly these questions empowering people through
questions empowering people through
questions empowering people through astronomy to solve problems get excited
astronomy to solve problems get excited
astronomy to solve problems get excited about STEM fields and improve their
about STEM fields and improve their
about STEM fields and improve their lives on the left is Wanda Diaz mark ed
lives on the left is Wanda Diaz mark ed
lives on the left is Wanda Diaz mark ed a member of this team her senior year of
a member of this team her senior year of
a member of this team her senior year of an undergraduate program in astrophysics
an undergraduate program in astrophysics
an undergraduate program in astrophysics Wanda went blind but instead of giving
Wanda went blind but instead of giving
Wanda went blind but instead of giving up she decided to devote her life to
up she decided to devote her life to
up she decided to devote her life to making astronomy accessible for the
making astronomy accessible for the
making astronomy accessible for the visually impaired her pioneering work
visually impaired her pioneering work
visually impaired her pioneering work sonna fiying visual data has now made it
sonna fiying visual data has now made it
sonna fiying visual data has now made it possible for blind students to hear the
possible for blind students to hear the
possible for blind students to hear the stars instead of seeing them the office
stars instead of seeing them the office
stars instead of seeing them the office of astronomy for development all
of astronomy for development all
of astronomy for development all collaborated with the South African
collaborated with the South African
collaborated with the South African astronomical observatory and a team of
astronomical observatory and a team of
astronomical observatory and a team of artists to create the Sutherland
artists to create the Sutherland
artists to create the Sutherland reflections program Sutherland is the
reflections program Sutherland is the
reflections program Sutherland is the site of all major telescopes in South
site of all major telescopes in South
site of all major telescopes in South Africa astronomers from around the world
Africa astronomers from around the world
Africa astronomers from around the world will travel through Sutherland to use
will travel through Sutherland to use
will travel through Sutherland to use these facilities and in doing so
these facilities and in doing so
these facilities and in doing so drive through impoverished communities
drive through impoverished communities
drive through impoverished communities that have been marginalized by the South
that have been marginalized by the South
that have been marginalized by the South African government under apartheid to
African government under apartheid to
African government under apartheid to help bring astronomy to these
help bring astronomy to these
help bring astronomy to these communities the Sutherland reflections
communities the Sutherland reflections
communities the Sutherland reflections program created a series of art and
program created a series of art and
program created a series of art and science demonstrations across the city
science demonstrations across the city
science demonstrations across the city this picture from the visitor center
this picture from the visitor center
this picture from the visitor center represents a tale in Sutherland folklore
represents a tale in Sutherland folklore
represents a tale in Sutherland folklore in which a star falls to earth and a
in which a star falls to earth and a
in which a star falls to earth and a little boy picks it up and throws it
little boy picks it up and throws it
little boy picks it up and throws it back in order to keep the sky beautiful
back in order to keep the sky beautiful
back in order to keep the sky beautiful here in Sutherland a community center
here in Sutherland a community center
here in Sutherland a community center and library were also created to help
and library were also created to help
and library were also created to help bring education to the children who need
bring education to the children who need
bring education to the children who need it most as part of an exhibit a 3d
it most as part of an exhibit a 3d
it most as part of an exhibit a 3d expanse of stars was created from pieces
expanse of stars was created from pieces
expanse of stars was created from pieces of broken glass taken from homes that
of broken glass taken from homes that
of broken glass taken from homes that had been demolished by the South African
had been demolished by the South African
had been demolished by the South African government under apartheid here in
government under apartheid here in
government under apartheid here in Sutherland the Stars truly represent the
Sutherland the Stars truly represent the
Sutherland the Stars truly represent the past the present and the future
past the present and the future
past the present and the future the Office of astronomy for development
the Office of astronomy for development
the Office of astronomy for development also funds creative outreach proposals
also funds creative outreach proposals
also funds creative outreach proposals around the world this picture was taken
around the world this picture was taken
around the world this picture was taken from the Chinese astrophotography
from the Chinese astrophotography
from the Chinese astrophotography contest in 2013 for the contest people
contest in 2013 for the contest people
contest in 2013 for the contest people across Beijing were tasked with imaging
across Beijing were tasked with imaging
across Beijing were tasked with imaging the sky to illustrate ancient Chinese
the sky to illustrate ancient Chinese
the sky to illustrate ancient Chinese poems writers and historians discussed
poems writers and historians discussed
poems writers and historians discussed the historical significance of the poems
the historical significance of the poems
the historical significance of the poems astronomers discussed the underlying
astronomers discussed the underlying
astronomers discussed the underlying astronomy and photographers gave talks
astronomy and photographers gave talks
astronomy and photographers gave talks on how to take better pictures here’s
on how to take better pictures here’s
on how to take better pictures here’s one of the winning photographs on the
one of the winning photographs on the
one of the winning photographs on the Left which was hung in the Beijing
Left which was hung in the Beijing
Left which was hung in the Beijing planetarium and one of the ancient
planetarium and one of the ancient
planetarium and one of the ancient Chinese poems on the right through the
Chinese poems on the right through the
Chinese poems on the right through the competition people were able to learn
competition people were able to learn
competition people were able to learn and get excited about the Stars while
and get excited about the Stars while
and get excited about the Stars while further routing them to their heritage
further routing them to their heritage
further routing them to their heritage but of course
but of course
but of course no story is complete without conflict
no story is complete without conflict
no story is complete without conflict this is a projection of light pollution
this is a projection of light pollution
this is a projection of light pollution in North America from the 1950s and
in North America from the 1950s and
in North America from the 1950s and projected out to 2025 year after year
projected out to 2025 year after year
projected out to 2025 year after year it’s getting harder and harder to see
it’s getting harder and harder to see
it’s getting harder and harder to see the stars and it’s easy to think of this
the stars and it’s easy to think of this
the stars and it’s easy to think of this as just a problem for the astronomers
as just a problem for the astronomers
as just a problem for the astronomers but it’s not this problem affects each
but it’s not this problem affects each
but it’s not this problem affects each and every one of us we saw with the
and every one of us we saw with the
and every one of us we saw with the Stars mean to people in Gabon in South
Stars mean to people in Gabon in South
Stars mean to people in Gabon in South Africa in China what did the stars mean
Africa in China what did the stars mean
Africa in China what did the stars mean to us in 1803 Thomas Jefferson wrote a
to us in 1803 Thomas Jefferson wrote a
to us in 1803 Thomas Jefferson wrote a letter to famous astronomer Robert
letter to famous astronomer Robert
letter to famous astronomer Robert Patterson and asked him to teach Lewis
Patterson and asked him to teach Lewis
Patterson and asked him to teach Lewis and Clark celestial navigation so that
and Clark celestial navigation so that
and Clark celestial navigation so that they could better navigate the new
they could better navigate the new
they could better navigate the new frontier Robert Patterson replied I am
frontier Robert Patterson replied I am
frontier Robert Patterson replied I am preparing a set of astronomical formula
preparing a set of astronomical formula
preparing a set of astronomical formula for mr. Lewis and will with the greatest
for mr. Lewis and will with the greatest
for mr. Lewis and will with the greatest pleasure render him every assistance in
pleasure render him every assistance in
pleasure render him every assistance in my power how would this country be
my power how would this country be
my power how would this country be different had they been unable to see
different had they been unable to see
different had they been unable to see the Stars what might van Gogh have
the Stars what might van Gogh have
the Stars what might van Gogh have painted if light pollution had
painted if light pollution had
painted if light pollution had obstructed his view the very symbol of
obstructed his view the very symbol of
obstructed his view the very symbol of our nation is the star-spangled banner
our nation is the star-spangled banner
our nation is the star-spangled banner why are we not doing more to protect the
why are we not doing more to protect the
why are we not doing more to protect the sky this is a picture I took of my view
sky this is a picture I took of my view
sky this is a picture I took of my view at the South African Observatory in Cape
at the South African Observatory in Cape
at the South African Observatory in Cape Town every person on earth has a right
Town every person on earth has a right
Town every person on earth has a right to this view the stars are an
to this view the stars are an
to this view the stars are an unparalleled resource for inspiration
unparalleled resource for inspiration
unparalleled resource for inspiration around the world regardless of culture
around the world regardless of culture
around the world regardless of culture in math in science and an art and they
in math in science and an art and they
in math in science and an art and they teach us more about ourselves and our
teach us more about ourselves and our
teach us more about ourselves and our history in the words of a Javanese man I
history in the words of a Javanese man I
history in the words of a Javanese man I interviewed the further we look outward
interviewed the further we look outward
interviewed the further we look outward the deeper we look inward we tell our
the deeper we look inward we tell our
the deeper we look inward we tell our children to reach for the stars because
children to reach for the stars because
children to reach for the stars because we see our futures there and if we lose
we see our futures there and if we lose
we see our futures there and if we lose the Stars then what happens to our
the Stars then what happens to our
the Stars then what happens to our future
future
future thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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